Noise

From crashing waves to large container ships, the ocean is a noisy place! Scientists are trying to figure out how natural and human noise influences ecosystems.
Ambient Levels
A graph showing noise levels in the Santa Barbara Channel from 2007 to 2016. 40Hz bands are shown in red, 90Hz bands are shown in blue. Data sources: McKenna et al. 2012, J. Hildebrand/ UCSD unpub. data; Figure credit: J. Hildebrand/SIO UCSD.

A graph showing noise levels in the Santa Barbara Channel from 2007 to 2016. 40Hz bands are shown in red, 90Hz bands are shown in blue. Data sources: McKenna et al. 2012, J. Hildebrand/ UCSD unpub. data; Figure credit: J. Hildebrand/SIO UCSD.

Click for Details Ambient noise levels in the Santa Barbara Channel represented as monthly averages for 40 Hz (red) and 90 Hz (blue) bands. The decline in ambient noise levels observed between 2007 and 2010 reflects decreased regional shipping activity during that time. While ambient noise has increased since 2010, it has not returned to the higher levels observed in 2007 to 2008. For more information, consult Figure App.C.4.13 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.

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Monitoring Stations
A map showing the location of historic (green dots) and current (yellow dots) passive acoustic monitoring stations around the Sanctuary and Santa Barbara Channel. Map credit: M. Cajandig/NOAA.

A map showing the location of historic (green dots) and current (yellow dots) passive acoustic monitoring stations around the Sanctuary and Santa Barbara Channel. Map credit: M. Cajandig/NOAA.

Click for Details Previous (green dots) and current (yellow dots) passive acoustic monitoring stations in and around CINMS are shown along with several sources of anthropogenic noise: ports and harbors, oil platforms, shipping lanes, and military testing zones. SIO = Scripps Institution of Oceanography; NOAA NRS = Noise Reference Station. For more information, consult Figure App.C.2.8 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.

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